Investigating soil compaction using strain transducer

Soil compaction has been a challenging problem in agriculture. The parameters affecting soil compaction and their effects should be investigated. Thereby, series of soil sinkage tests were conducted at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili to evaluate the effect of soil moisture, loading velocity, depth and loading times on soil compaction using strain transducers. Three strain transducers were placed in x, y and z directions and their displacement was recorded during loading and unloading. Experiments were arranged as a complete randomized factorial design and 3 levels of moisture content and loading velocity and 2 levels of depth and loading time were investigated at three replications. It was found that with moisture increment soil displacement increased whereas increasing loading velocity and depth decreased soil compaction. There was a significant difference between the first and second loading time. The mutual binary effect of moisture content and loading time as well as that of depth and loading times were significant for transducer displacement. Mutual triplet effect of moisture, velocity and depth on the transducer displacement was significant.

Design and Testing of the Strain Transducer for Measuring Deformations of Pipelines Operating in the Mining-deformable Ground Environment

Design and laboratory test results of the strain transducer intended for monitoring and assessing stress states of pipelines sited in mining areas are presented in this paper. This transducer allows measuring strains of pipelines subjected to external forces - being the mining operations effect. Pipeline strains can have a direct influence on a tightness loss and penetration of the transported fluid into the environment. The original strain gauge transducer was proposed for performing measurements of strains. It allows measuring circumferential strains and determining the value and direction of the main longitudinal strain. This strain is determined on the basis of measuring component longitudinal strains originating from axial forces and the resultant bending moment. The main purpose of investigations was the experimental verification of the possibility of applying the strain transducer for measuring strains of polyethylene pipelines. The obtained results of the transducer subjected to influences of tensile and compression forces are presented and tests of relaxation properties of polyethylene are performed.